Palmolein case posted to February 26

Thiruvananthapuram, Feb 11 (PTI) The palmolein importgraft case, in which Central Vigilance Commissioner P J Thomasfigures as an accused, was posted to February 26 by aVigilance Court here today.

Enquiry Commissioner and Special Judge S Jagadeesadjourned the case as documents related to it were yet to bereceived at the court from the Supreme Court.

The case relates to loss to the tune of Rs 2.32 croreallegedly caused to the exchequer by import of palmolein in1991-92 when late Congress leader K Karunarakan was the ChiefMinister and Thomas the Food Secretary and a member of theBoard of the Kerala State Civil Supplies Corporation.

Thomas figures as the eighth accused in thechargesheet filed by the Vigilance and Anti-corruption Bureauin 2003.

According to the chargesheet filed under thePrevention of Corruption Act and the Indian Penal Code, theaccused caused the exchequer a loss of Rs 2.32 crore byimporting palmolein through a Malaysia-based firm atexorbitant rates.

Karunakaran, who died in Dec 2010, was the firstaccused in the case.

The other accused are former Food Minister andCongress leader T H Musthafa, senior IAS Officer Giji Thomson,then Managing Director of Kerala State Civil SuppliesCorporation, former Chief Secretary S Padmakumar, formerChairman of Kerala State Civil Supplies Corporation ZachariahMathew, and two representatives of the Malaysia-based Powerand Energy Ltd.